Conversion assembly for converting an in-line roller skate to a double sided ice skate blade

ABSTRACT

A conversion assembly for converting an in-line roller skate to a double sided ice skate blade has a frame structure consisting of a solid piece containing a double-edged skate blade, transversely aligned bores located on the frame structure to allow mechanical fastening of the frame structure to the existing boot frame, one circular bore, and at least one longitudinal bore.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally but more particularly to assemblies for converting roller skates to ice skates.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Numerous skates have been provided which can be converted from a roller skate to an ice skate or even a walking shoe. However, the conversion assemblies of these skates and bases are boot specific and are limited in use to the specific skate or assembly for which it has been designed; these conversion assemblies are not interchangeable with each other or existing ice skates or roller skates.

PRIOR ART CAPABILITY AND MOTIVATIONS, AS HELPING TO SHOW PATENTABILITY HERE

Even in hindsight consideration of the present invention to determine its inventive and novel nature, it is not only conceded but emphasized that the prior art had many details usable in this invention, but only if the prior art had had the guidance of the present invention, details of both capability and motivation.

That is, it is emphasized that the prior art had/or knew several particulars which individually and accumulatively show the non-obviousness of this combination invention. E.g.,

-   -   a) The cost of the materials are relatively low and do not have         a profound impact on price to the point of offsetting the         benefits of this novel product;     -   b) The nature of an invention as being a “novel combination”, in         spite of existence of details separately, is especially         significant here where the novelty is of the plurality of         concepts, i.e., the use of a blade sharpened on both sides uses         substantially the same amount of material than a blade sharpened         on only one side and in both cases, there is a need for         securedly hold the blade to the rest of the skate boot;     -   c) The addition of providing the features of two ice skates into         only one ice skate;     -   d) The matter of particular cost-factors, in a detailed form         which would surely convey the realization of the huge cost         benefits involved in manufacturing such a device;     -   e) The cost-factors involved in the purchase of more than one         pair of skates when not using the invention which allows for the         equivalent of having up to three pair of skates.     -   f) The ease of tooling for the present invention has surely         given manufacturers ample incentive to have made modifications         for commercial competitiveness in a competitive industry, if the         concepts had been obvious;     -   g) The prior art has always had sufficient skill to make many         types of multiple blade as well as wheel to blade conversion         kits, more than ample skill to have achieved the present         invention, but only if the concepts and their combinations had         been conceived;     -   h) Substantially all of the operational characteristics and         advantages of details of the present invention, when considered         separately from one another and when considered separately from         the present invention's details and accomplishment of the         details, are within the skill of persons of various arts, but         only when considered away from the integrated and novel         combination of concepts which by their cooperative combination         achieve this advantageous invention;     -   i) The details of the present invention, when considered solely         from the standpoint of construction, are exceedingly simple,         basically an interface between the blade and the existing wheel         frame of an inline skate and the matter of simplicity of         construction has long been recognized as indicative of inventive         creativity;     -   j) Similarly, and a long-recognized indication of inventiveness         of a novel combination, is the realistic principle that a person         of ordinary skill in the art, as illustrated with respect to the         claimed combination as differing in the stated respects from the         prior art both as to construction and concept, is presumed to be         one who thinks along the line of conventional wisdom in the art         and is not one who undertakes to innovate; and     -   k) The predictable benefits from a novel conversion assembly for         converting an in-line roller skate to a double sided ice skate         blade having the features of this invention would seem         sufficiently high that others would have been working on this         type of product, but only if the concepts which it presents had         been conceived.

Accordingly, although the prior art has had capability and motivation, amply sufficient to presumably give incentive to the development a conversion assembly for converting an in-line roller skate to a double sided ice skate blade according to the present invention, the fact remains that this invention awaited the creativity and inventive discovery of the present Inventor. In spite of ample motivation, the prior art did not suggest this invention.

PRIOR ART AS PARTICULAR INSTANCES OF FAILURE TO PROVIDE THIS NOVEL PRODUCT AND INSTALLATION METHOD

In view of the general economic advantages, ecological advantages, etc., of the present invention as an improved embodiment of the prior art, it may be difficult to realize that the prior art has not conceived of the combination purpose and achievement of the present invention, even though the need for it is a known requested commodity for people nowadays who (describe what people want). Surely the need for multiple blade as well as wheel to blade conversion kits has been known for decades and the technology to achieve such results has been known for years and that the various combination provided in this invention would have been desired and attempted long ago, but only if its factors and combination-nature had been obvious.

Other considerations, as herein mentioned, when realistically evaluated show the inventive nature of the present invention, a change in concept which the prior patent and other prior art did not achieve.

SUMMARY OF THE PRIOR ART'S LACK OF SUGGESTIONS OF THE CONCEPTS OF THE INVENTION'S COMBINATION

And the existence of such prior art knowledge and related ideas embodying such various features is not only conceded, it is emphasized; for as to the novelty here of the combination, of the invention as considered as a whole, a contrast to the prior art helps also to remind of needed improvement, and the advantages and the inventive significance of the present concepts. Thus, as shown herein as a contrast to all the prior art, the inventive significance of the present concepts as a combination is emphasized, and the nature of the concepts and their results can perhaps be easier seen as an invention.

Although varieties of prior art are conceded, and ample motivation is shown, and full capability in the prior art is conceded, no prior art shows or suggests details of the overall combination of the present invention, as is the proper and accepted way of considering the inventiveness nature of the concepts.

That is, although the prior art may show an approach to the overall invention, it is determinatively significant that none of the prior art shows the novel and advantageous concepts in combination, which provides the merits of this invention, even though certain details are shown separately from this accomplishment as a combination.

And the prior art's lack of an invention of a double sided ice skate blade and other advantages of the present invention, which are goals only approached by the prior art, must be recognized as being a long-felt need now fulfilled.

Accordingly, the various concepts and components are conceded and emphasized to have been widely known in the prior art as to various installations; nevertheless, the prior art not having had the particular combination of concepts and details as here presented and shown in novel combination different from the prior art and its suggestions, even only a fair amount of realistic humility, to avoid consideration of this invention improperly by hindsight, requires the concepts and achievements here to be realistically viewed as a novel combination, inventive in nature. And especially is this a realistic consideration when viewed from the position of a person of ordinary skill in this art at the time of this invention, and without trying to reconstruct this invention from the prior art without use of hindsight toward particulars not suggested by the prior art.

FEATURES AND ADVANTAGES OF THE INVENTION Summary of the Invention

In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known devices now present in the prior art, the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide objects and advantages which are:

To provide for a new and improved assembly for converting an in-line roller skate to an ice skate.

To provide a conversion assembly of the above character which is adaptable to roller skates.

To provide a conversion assembly of the above character which includes a minimum number of components and is relatively easy to use.

To provide a conversion assembly of the above character which provides a relatively rigid and sturdy attachment of the ice blade to the roller skate boot.

To provide a conversion assembly of the above character which provides for a two sided ice skate blade allowing one two switch from, for example, figure skating to hockey skating.

To attain these ends, the present invention generally comprises a removably attached frame structure to connect with a boot frame; with a double-edged blade inserted into the frame structure. A plurality of transversely aligned bores located on the frame structure so as to allow for mechanical fastening, by way of existing mechanical fasteners, of the frame structure to the existing boot frame. At least one circular bore and at least one longitudinal bore. Blade holes and openings made into the frame structure to allow for mechanical fasteners to hold the double edged blade onto the frame structure.

Preferably, the rame structure is shaped with valleys and hills.

In order to switch from inline skate mode to ice skate mode and vice versa, a user unscrews the existing mechanical fasteners that are already on the boot frame and used for holding the wheels, removes the wheels, remove the frame structure mechanical fasteners so as to separate each of the frame structure parts so as to be able to position the double-edged skate blade in the preferred orientation for the intended use.

There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.

In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.

As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the scientists, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application. The abstract is neither intended to define the invention of the application, which is measured by the claims, nor is it intended to be limiting as to the scope of the invention in any way.

These together with other objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be made to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter which contains illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1 a-b Side views of a skate boot with wheels, and with a blade, respectively.

FIGS. 2 a-b Side and front views, respectively, of the skate boot with the blade assembly.

FIGS. 3 a-b Side and front views, respectively, of the double edged blade inserted into the frame structure.

FIG. 4 Side view of the double edged blade separated from the frame structure.

FIGS. 5 a-b Side and front views, respectively, of the skate boot with the blade assembly sporting a ski implement in lieu of a blade.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A conversion assembly (10) for converting a boot frame (18) from in-line roller skate mode to ice skate mode comprises a frame structure (12) mechanically attached to the boot frame and a double-edged skate blade (14) inserted into that frame structure (12).

A plurality of transversely aligned bores (16, 16′) located on the frame structure (12) allow mechanical fastening—by way of existing mechanical fasteners (15) —of the frame structure (12) to the existing boot frame (18).

Since not all wheel (11) spacing is similar between various brands of skates, it is preferable to make only one round bore (16′) circular while keeping the other bores (16) longitudinal so that they can accept various longitudinal spacing of wheels (11) while the round bore (16′) stops the frame structure (12) from moving back and front.

Also, because of the way the boot frame (18) is generally shaped, very little room is available for the frame structure (12) so it is shaped with valleys (11) and hills (13).

The double-edged skate blade (14) is joined together with the frame (12) by way of frame structure mechanical fasteners (22) passing through openings (24) made into the frame structure (12) as well as blade holes (26).

It should be understood that since the principle of blade and wheel substitution has been shown through various other prior arts, substituting wheels for a ski instead of a blade would also deemed to be an obvious variant which can easily be done by using the frame structure (12) of this invention. Any of a number of attachments could be similarly fitted onto the frame structure (12).

In order to switch from inline skate mode to ice skate mode and vice versa, all the user has to do is unscrew the existing mechanical fasteners (15) that are already on the boot frame (18) and used for holding the wheels (11), remove the wheels (11). Then, the user would remove the frame structure mechanical fasteners (22) so as to remove the blade (14) from it and reposition the double-edged skate blade (14) in the preferred orientation for the intended use. Once that is done, simply reassembling the hereinabove described parts onto the boot frame (18) makes the conversion assembly (10) ready to use.

Depending upon which type of skating the user wants to do, the user will orient the double edged blade so that the appropriate side (20, 20′) will make contact with the ice. This is simply done by removing the frame structure (12) from the boot frame (18) by way of removing the existing mechanical fasteners.

As to a further discussion of the manner of usage and operation of the present invention, the same should be apparent from the above description. Accordingly, no further discussion relating to the manner of usage and operation will be provided.

With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention.

Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention. 

1. A conversion assembly for converting an in-line roller skate to a double edged ice skate comprising: a removably attached frame structure to connect with a boot frame; a double-edged blade inserted into the frame structure; a plurality of transversely aligned bores located on the frame structure so as to allow for mechanical fastening, by way of existing mechanical fasteners, of the frame structure to the existing boot frame; at least one circular bore; at least one longitudinal bore; blade holes and openings made into the frame structure to allow for mechanical fasteners to hold the double edged blade onto the frame structure.
 2. A conversion assembly for converting an in-line roller skate to a double edged ice skate as in claim 1 wherein: the frame structure is shaped with valleys and hills.
 3. A conversion assembly for converting an in-line roller skate to a double edged ice skate as in claim 1 having the following method of installation: a user unscrews mechanical fasteners already on the boot frame and used for holding the wheels, removes the wheels; the user removes the frame structure mechanical fasteners so as to remove the blade from the frame structure and repositions the double-edged skate blade in the preferred orientation for the intended use; reassembling the hereinabove described parts onto the boot frame makes the conversion assembly ready to use. 